With local elections taking place across London on 7 May, and the pre-election period underway, London Cycling Campaign's local group Kingston Cycling Campaign (KCC) is asking Kingston Council's potential leaders to commit to building high-quality cycles routes where Transport for London (TfL) has identified a need for them. 

Following its analysis, TfL has identified five key routes across Kingston that will have the most impact on encouraging people to cycle locally. 

With TfL funding available to create them and complete a safe cycle network across the borough, the new 'Streets for Cycling' campaign asks party leaders to pledge to build a safe, joined-up cycle network across the borough by the end of their term in 2030 if elected. 

These proposed routes would connect central Kingston to nearby town centres such as Richmond and Wimbledon, link Surbiton with Norbiton and New Malden with Worcester Park, and improve connections between Chessington and Surbiton. 

A KCC spokesperson, Jon Fray, said: "Whilst Kingston already has some good quality cycle routes, with the ones along Kingston and Ewell Roads set to be completed over the coming months, building this basic cycle network identified by Transport for London would be a gamechanger. 

"Thousands of daily local car trips in Kingston could be switched to cycling if people felt safe enough. 

"Parents would feel more confident letting their children cycle to school, and we'd start to see more women, elderly people and people with disabilities discovering the freedom, convenience, health and joy that a better-connected network of protected cycle routes brings. 

"Ultimately the more residents that have the confidence to cycle, the more we will reduce traffic congestion, road danger and harmful pollution and the less pressure will be put on local health and social services." 

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Kingston Cycling Campaign has launched a Streets for Cycling campaign (Credit: Kingston Cycling Campaign)

The campaign builds on Kingston Council's 2019 Climate Emergency declaration, which is committed to reducing emissions and supporting more sustainable travel across the borough. 

It also comes at a time when major Kingston developments, such as the Cambridge Road Estate regeneration, are actively discouraging car dependency by limiting car parking provision. 

Whilst only one in four (25.7 per cent) Kingston households do not have access to a vehicle, ownership varies hugely across the borough, doubling in some of Kingston's most deprived communities. 

With over half (51.3 per cent) of households in Norbiton's Cambridge Road Estate having no car or van, the 2021 Census1 shows the need to balance social justice issues with assumptions around private car use. 

The group is encouraging residents to support its campaign and make the local elections count for cycling by emailing Kingston's party leaders via this website.

Two lection candidates have already included KCC's campaign in their plelection pledges.

Linda Sawyer of the Green Party said: "Cycling isn't just a means of transport, it helps reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, and what's more it makes us happier and healthier too.

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That's why Kingston Green Party is happy to support the London Cycling Campaign. As a local party and as elected representatives we will continue to push for the council to complete by 2030, the cycle routes identified by TFL for the borough in order to deliver a complete, connected and safe network across the borough that is safe for cyclists and pedestrians."

And Kezia Coleman, Chair of the Kingston and Surbiton Labour party said: "Kingston Labour supports the ambition to make cycling safe, accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Cycling improves public health and helps tackle the climate emergency. However, for many residents, particularly children, families and older people, safety remains the biggest barrier.

"Completing a safe, connected network that takes into account access and inclusion will allow people to travel confidently between town centres, schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods. We are pleased the Government has allocated £2.6 billion to help decarbonise transport, including £616 million for Active Travel England through to 2030.

"This funding supports safer streets, improved infrastructure and programmes such as Bikeability training that help more people cycle with confidence. Kingston Labour will work with residents, local groups and Transport for London to support high-quality, well-designed cycling routes that connect communities across the borough. Safer, well-constructed cycling infrastructure benefits everyone.

"Kingston Labour also supports the ambition to complete the cycle routes identified by Transport for London in the borough by 2030, working with partners to deliver a safe and connected network that makes cycling a realistic option for more people."